Arthur: Where exactly did you find this, Clara?
Clara: Right underneath the support spring, Mr. Vance. I was dusting the lower frame ten minutes ago when I felt a hard lump glued to the underside.
Victoria: This is absurd! She probably put it there herself to cause a scene and ask for a bribe!
Arthur: Silence, Victoria. Look at the craftsmanship. This isn't a cheap toy from an electronics store. This is military-grade audio surveillance equipment.
Clara: I swear on my mother's life, sir, I have done nothing but clean this house for three years. I noticed the tiny wire sticking out when I wiped down the legs.
Victoria: Arthur, you are actually listening to a servant over your future wife? She is making a spectacle in front of our board members and investors!
Arthur: I care more about who is tapping my private dinner conversations than social etiquette, Victoria. This seat is where I sat when we finalized the ten-million-dollar land acquisition last week.
Clara: Sir, there's something else. The earpiece... it was planted in my locker this morning with a note telling me to ignore anything under your chair.
Arthur stepped closer to Clara, his expression hardening into cold steel. The wealthy guests exchanged hushed, frantic whispers around the table.
Arthur: Someone tried to blackmail you into staying quiet?
Clara: Yes, Mr. Vance. The note said my brother's medical debt would be paid off if I kept my mouth shut. But I couldn't do it. You paid for his heart surgery last year. I couldn't betray you.
Victoria: She's lying! Look at her shaking! She's making up a sob story to cover her tracks!
Arthur: If she wanted money, she would have taken the bribe and kept quiet. Someone in this room put that transmitter there.
Victoria: Are you accusing your own guests? Your business partners?
Arthur: I am accusing whoever had access to my private dining quarters before tonight. Security guard Marcus! Seal the doors right now!
Marcus, the head of private security, immediately moved to the massive double doors, pulling them shut with a heavy thud and locking the brass bolts.
Marcus: No one enters or leaves without your clearance, Mr. Vance.
Victoria: This is insane! You're locking us in like criminals over a maid's paranoid delusions!
Arthur: It's not a delusion when the device is sitting in my hand, Victoria. Look at the frequency marker on the side casing. It has an active receiver code stamped on it.
Clara: Mr. Vance... the voice on the earpiece... it sounded like someone inside this house. The signal didn't have any static.
Arthur: That means the person holding the receiver is standing within fifty feet of us right now.
Victoria took a step back, her glass of champagne trembling in her hand until the liquid spilled over her manicured fingers.
Victoria: You're all crazy. I'm going to my bedroom upstairs.
Arthur: You aren't going anywhere, Victoria. Not until my head of IT inspects every purse, jacket, and electronic device in this room.
Victoria: You have no legal right to detain me or our guests!
Arthur: This is my property, and that device is evidence of corporate espionage and illegal wiretapping. Try me.
Clara: Sir... look at the table setting near Ms. Victoria's handbag. Her designer clutch has a small antenna sticking out from the side zipper.
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